About javier cabanillas

CABANIJAZZ PROJECT

Originally formed in 2008 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Javier Cabanillas and Cabanijazz Project have been in-demand on the San Francisco Latin Jazz and salsa scenes since the group re-launched in 2016.

The group started as a quintet in Tijuana, performing regularly in local venues and quickly booked for upcoming national and international festivals. After six months, the project grew from a quintet to an octet, with a three horn section with Tenor Saxes and Trombone.

In 2010, they released a full album "Live in Tijuana," making them ambassadors of Latin Jazz along the border region of San Diego/Tijuana. After relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in early 2011, Cabanillas began working as a conga player with Pacific Mambo Orchestra before they won a GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Tropical Album. He began collaborating as a side man with several projects throughout the Bay Area, supplying original compositions and arrangements that earned raves.

Cabanijazz Project re-launched in April 2016 with an ensemble comprised of both original members and new SF-based based musicians in San Diego at Dizzy’s Jazz Club. The following month in May, they debuted in San Francisco at Cigar Bar & Grill on a Latin Jazz night, and quickly were invited to perform at salsa nights.

Since then, Cabanijazz Project has been very active in San Francisco Latin Jazz and Salsa Scenes, performing at Redwood City Salsa Festival 2016, SF CARNAVAL 2017, Sonoma Jazz Valley Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, and award winning Latin dance venues. They will soon record their first commercial release full album of original compositions.

Once upon a time...

CABANIJAZZ PROJECT

From the humble beginnings of performing in pop-up flea market in the streets of Tijuana, to walking the Red Carpet at the GRAMMY AWARDS in Los Angeles 2014, then winning the award with Pacific Mambo Orchestra for Best Latin Tropical Album of the Year (Winning over Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, and other Major Label Artists) GRAMMY AWARD-Winning Javier Cabanillas is a self taught composer, conga player, and band leader residing in the San Francisco Bay Area collaborating as a sideman and leading serval projects including CABANIJAZZ PROJECT.